Alliston dad brought to tears over son’s NHL deal

By Brad Pritchard

ALLISTON - The blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs may have once ran strong in his blood, but that’s not why an Alliston dad was brought to tears after learning his son had been signed to play for the Montreal Canadiens.

Sheila Crisp and her husband Steve were overcome with happiness when their 20-year-old son Connor emailed to say he agreed to a three-year deal with the Habs.

“I said ‘Those are happy tears right?’” Sheila recalled saying to Steve. “And he said ‘Yes!’ He was just very emotional about it.”

In the days leading up to the decision, they knew their son’s agent was negotiating with the team, but they weren’t sure what would come of it.

Sheila said they couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

“It’s just amazing,” she said. “The biggest thing is with all the bumps in the road he’s hit, yet he still kept going. His rookie year was pretty tough, and then the next year he hurt his shoulder and he was out for six months, and that was really tough.

“We’re just really proud that he just kept going to his dream and nothing stopped him,” she added.

In an email, Connor, who is currently at home recovering from shoulder surgery, said his dad’s reaction shows how hard they worked to get him to this point.

“It’s been a lot of hard work since day one,” he wrote. “There’s been a lot of doubters along the way, but a lot more supporters which I am very grateful for. A lot of highs and lows with tough seasons and injuries but that's all part of the game. I'm just glad I kept fighting and stayed positive through everything.”

The Crisps conversion to Habs fandom started last year, shortly after the team selected Connor in the 2013 NHL draft.

“To tell you the truth, our garage was filled with Maple Leafs stuff,” Sheila said. “It cost me a fortunate to change it over, but I did change it over and I’m definitely a Habs fan now.”

The former Banting Memorial High School student spent the past season playing for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves.

After the Wolves were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs, the Canadiens farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, signed the 6’3’’ forward on a tryout agreement to finish off the season.

Next season he will play for the Bulldogs, where he could be called up at any moment to play in the NHL.

“It’s still a long way until I can make the next step, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get an early sniff at the NHL,” he added.

During his time with the Wolves, Crisp played a total of 67 games. Over the season he racked up 28 goals and 27 assists and also led the team with 120 penalty minutes.

Crisp got his start in the OHL four years ago with the Erie Otters and before that he played four seasons as a centre and left wing for the York Simcoe Express minor midget team in Newmarket. Prior to that he played in the TNT Minor Hockey system.

Two years ago while with the Otters, he made national headlines when he stepped between the pipes so his team wouldn’t have to forfeit a game after their goalie was injured.

While his team ended up losing, he received a standing ovation from the crowd and was also given first star honours.

“It’s been an absolute rollercoaster, it truly has,” Sheila said of Connor’s hockey journey.